Josephine de Karman Fellowship
Scholarship Sponsored by Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust
Overview
About the Fellowship: The Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust was established in 1954 by Dr. Theodore von Karman in memory of his sister, Josephine, who died in Pasadena in 1951. The fellowship recognizes and supports students whose academic achievements reflect Dr. von Karman’s high standards. In 2023, the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) became steward of the de Karman legacy and began overseeing awards in partnership with a committee of qualified PhD application reviewers. The fellowship supports outstanding PhD students in their final year as they prepare to defend their dissertations.
- Established in 1954 to honor Josephine de Karman.
- Administered by PCF in partnership with a selection committee.
- Designed to support PhD students nearing dissertation defense.
Eligibility
Eligibility: Applicants must be final-year PhD students enrolled at one of the California universities listed below; international students may apply. Candidates must expect to defend their dissertations in or around June 2028. Undergraduate students, master’s students, JD candidates, and postdoctoral scholars are not eligible. Applicants from any PhD discipline may apply, with special consideration given to those in the humanities. Competition is highly selective, and competitive applicants are expected to have strong recommendation letters, significant early scholarly contributions, and substantial dissertation work completed by the time they apply.
- California Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Irvine
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, Riverside
- University of California, San Diego
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of Southern California
- Applicants must be in the final year of a PhD program at a listed university.
- Humanities applicants receive special consideration.
Funding Amounts
Award Value: Four fellowships will be awarded for the 2027–28 cycle, at $28,000 each. The award supports one regular academic year, covering fall and spring semesters or the equivalent under a quarterly system. Funds are paid through the fellowship office of the recipient’s university for study in the United States; awards cannot be renewed or postponed.
- Four awards of $28,000 each are available.
- Funding covers one academic year and is not renewable or deferrable.
Application Requirements
Application Timeline: The 2027–28 application is available. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time in January 2027; late applications will not be considered. Award recipients will be announced in May 2027, and applicants with questions may contact the Programs Team.
- Application deadline: January 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
- Late applications will not be considered.
- Award recipients will be announced in May 2027.